Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 2, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10030-10032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3784]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19202; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-95-AD; 
Amendment 39-13989; AD 2005-05-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 757 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Boeing Model 757 series airplanes. This AD requires 
identification of the part number for the cable assembly for the lower 
anti-collision light, and related

[[Page 10031]]

investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted 
by a report of damage caused by an electrical arc in a connector on the 
cable assembly for the lower anti-collision light. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent an electrical arc in the cable assembly for the lower 
anti-collision light, which could result in a fire in a flammable 
leakage zone of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 6, 2005.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the AD is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 
6, 2005.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-
2207. You can examine this information at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of 
this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    Docket: The AD docket contains the proposed AD, comments, and any 
final disposition. You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, 
Washington, DC. This docket number is FAA-2004-19202; the directorate 
identifier for this docket is 2004-NM-95-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcia Smith, Aerospace Engineer, 
Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle 
Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 917-6484; fax (425) 917-6590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR Part 39 
with an AD for certain Boeing Model 757 series airplanes. That action, 
published in the Federal Register on September 29, 2004 (69 FR 58107), 
proposed to require identification of the part number for the cable 
assembly for the lower anti-collision light, and related investigative 
and corrective actions if necessary.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment that has been 
submitted on the proposed AD.

Request for an Additional Method of Corrective Action

    The commenter states that potting and/or sealing the backshells of 
the connectors on the existing cable, to preclude liquid contamination, 
could provide an equivalent level of safety. We infer that the 
commenter is requesting that we revise the proposed AD to include 
potting and/or sealing the backshells of the connectors on the existing 
cable as an additional method for correcting the unsafe condition.
    We do not agree. Due to the variety of potting material and 
methodologies available, we would need to review each operator's 
proposed potting material and methodology on a case-by-case basis. 
Operators may apply for an alternative method of compliance under the 
provisions of paragraph (i) of this AD. We have not made any changes to 
this AD regarding this issue.

Clarification of Applicability of Paragraph (g)

    We have revised paragraph (g) of this AD to clarify that only 
airplanes having a cable assembly with a certain Boeing or Grimes part 
number, or airplanes on which the part number of the cable assembly 
cannot be positively identified, are required to accomplish the actions 
specified in paragraph (g).

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment that has been submitted, and determined that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD with the changes described 
previously. We have determined that these changes will neither increase 
the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    This AD affects about 974 airplanes worldwide, and 650 airplanes of 
U.S. registry. The following table provides the estimated costs for 
U.S. operators to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
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                                                                                                                        Number of U.S.-
                 Action                     Work hours     Average labor              Parts                Cost per        registered       Fleet cost
                                                           rate per hour                                   airplane        airplanes
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Inspection/Records Review..............               1              $65   None......................             $65              650          $42,250
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Authority for this Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a 
substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between 
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD. See the ADDRESSES section for

[[Page 10032]]

a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2005-05-01 Boeing: Amendment 39-13989. Docket No. FAA-2004-19202; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-95-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective April 6, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Boeing Model 757-200, -200CB, and -200PF 
series airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-
33A0048, dated March 28, 2002; and Boeing Model 757-300 series 
airplanes identified in Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-33A0049, 
dated March 28, 2002; certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of damage caused by an 
electrical arc in a connector on the cable assembly for the lower 
anti-collision light. We are issuing this AD to prevent an 
electrical arc in the cable assembly for the lower anti-collision 
light, which could result in a fire in a flammable leakage zone of 
the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Identification of Cable Assembly Part Number (P/N)

    (f) Within 60 months after the effective date of this AD: Do an 
inspection or a review of airplane maintenance records to identify 
the P/N of the cable assembly for the lower anti-collision light. If 
Boeing P/N S283T012-15 or Grimes P/N 60-3414-9 is identified, or if 
the part number of the cable assembly cannot be positively 
identified, do the related investigative and corrective actions 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

Related Investigative and Corrective Actions

    (g) For airplanes having Boeing P/N S283T012-15 or Grimes P/N 
60-3414-9, or airplanes on which the P/N of the cable assembly 
cannot be positively identified: Within 60 months after the 
effective date of this AD, replace the cable assembly for the lower 
anti-collision light with a new, improved cable assembly, or modify 
the existing cable assembly; and do the related investigative 
actions; in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 757-33A0048 (for Model 757-200, -
200CB, and -200PF series airplanes); or 757-33A0049 (for Model 757-
300 series airplanes); both dated March 28, 2002; as applicable.

Parts Installation

    (h) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
cable assembly, Boeing P/N S283T012-15 or Grimes P/N 60-3414-9, in a 
flammable leakage zone on any airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has 
the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use the service information that is specified in 
Table 1 of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this 
AD, as applicable, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The Director 
of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of 
those documents in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 
51. For copies of the service information, contact Boeing Commercial 
Airplanes, P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington 98124-2207. For 
information on the availability of this material at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA), call (202) 741-6030, or 
go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. You may view the AD docket at the 
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 
Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

              Table 1.--Material Incorporated by Reference
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                                       Revision
    Boeing alert service bulletin       level              Date
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757-33A0048.........................   Original  March 28, 2002.
757-33A0049.........................   Original  March 28, 2002.
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    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 16, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3784 Filed 3-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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